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The Neural Engine of Apple's next-generation A18 and M4 processors for future iPhone and Mac models will be "significantly" expanded in core count.
Apple to Unveil iOS 18 with Enhanced AI Capabilities, Preparing for iPhone 16's Advanced Neural Engine
A Neural Engine upgrade would enhance the efficacy of machine learning and AI tasks, according to a report published today in the Economic Daily News from Taiwan. New generative AI features for Siri, Shortcuts, Messages, Apple Music, and more are rumored to be included in iOS 18.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, stated on an earnings call this month that the company was developing generative AI and would provide more information "later this year." iOS 18 is anticipated to be unveiled in June during WWDC, Apple's yearly developers' conference.
In September, A18 series chips are anticipated to make their début in iPhone 16 models. There have been prior rumors suggesting that certain generative AI functionalities might be exclusive to iPhone 16 models. An explanation for this could be the upgraded Neural Engine.
Neural Engine history for iPhones:
- 2-core Neural Engine in the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X
- 8-core Neural Engine in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
- 8-core Neural Engine in the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
- 16-core Neural Engine in all iPhone 12 models
- 16-core Neural Engine in all iPhone 13 models
- 16-core Neural Engine in all iPhone 14 models
- 16-core Neural Engine in all iPhone 15 models
Even though the number of cores in the Neural Engine has remained constant over time, Apple has continued to enhance its efficacy. Apple claims, for instance, that the Neural Engine of the iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro processor is up to two times faster than that of the iPhone 14 Pro.
Apple's Mac Lineup to Embrace M4 Chips Amidst AI Boom
Regarding the Mac, the majority of models that feature Apple silicon processors feature a 16-core Neural Engine. The sole anomalies are the Mac Studio and the Mac Pro, which, when equipped with an M1 Ultra or M2 Ultra chip, incorporate a 32-core Neural Engine, as per MacRumors.
The initial Macs featuring an M4 chip will likely be introduced by the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. Popularity skyrocketed in 2022 following the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI, a chatbot capable of responding to inquiries and other prompts.
Other corporations, including Google and Microsoft, have also introduced comparable chatbots and tools, such as those capable of generating images automatically and responding to voice queries, among other capabilities.
Photo: Yuheng Ouyang/Unsplash
